Joseph Marco aims for our hearts

Joseph Marco says he’s ‘very single’ now, so that was a good call on the relationship bit. Career, though? Not as complicated.

MANILA, Philippines - Unreal. It’s the first thought that comes to mind when you first see Joseph Marco. The magnificently sculpted hair. That toasted cashew complexion. Those dimples. Unreal. Especially with his shirt off, baring a body that almost compels you to adorn it with the armor of an ancient Roman soldier. Positively unreal. It all seems so synthetic — so run-of-the-mill man candy  — until you actually talk to the guy. There are no pretenses. There is no strained smile. He’ll speak up about how uncomfortable he is with a hairstylist poking around at his ‘do. He’ll admit that the sun irritates him right before you shoot him under the scorch of noontime rays. He even admits to idolizing Christian Bale, a celebrity allergic to bull, ironic as that is. Sh*t gets pretty real with Mr. Marco. Considering the masa-manufactured identity he could have assimilated, his honesty is, honestly, quite refreshing.   

He never wanted all this anyway — a take-it-or-leave-it attitude that’s benefited him so far. He landed the first commercial he auditioned for (Head & Shoulders with Angel Locsin). The fashion show for Bench had caught his manager Keren Pascual’s eye was a gig a friend dragged him to. “Tinanong niya ako kung gusto kong mag-artista. Sabi ko, ‘Okay lang po.’ Pero at the back of my mind, alam ko showbiz is a really complicated world and siguro may mga bagay akong ayaw i-sacrifice since may girlfriend din ako at that time.”   

Marco says he’s “very single” now, so that was a good call on the relationship bit. Career, though? Not as complicated. Besides winning Best Actor for Saturday Night Chills at last year’s Cinema One Originals Film Festival, you can see him on ABS-CBN’s Honesto. In a teleserye inspired by the Napoles case, Marco plays a not-too-bright yet truthful man among countless corrupt characters. “He’s a person lacking in common sense, so medyo slow siya mentally and very honest din siya. Kasi yung mga ganong tao, diba yung may problems sa isip, they don’t know how to lie,” says Marco of the “simpleton” Elai.     

The show has helped make Marco more familiar to audiences. It’s led to two upcoming magazine covers, an album currently in the works, and a new TV show, at least. In the remake of Koreanovela Pure Love, he plays Dave, the leading man opposite Alex Gonzaga. He’ll be shooting the teleserye through the summer and long hours leave no time for actual love. At least not for a man accustomed to following through where his feelings are concerned. “Approach her and treat her a bit special than the others so that she’d appreciate you,” he says on matters of attracting the opposite sex. “I guess just be real to her.” 

In that case, getting a girl’s attention shouldn’t be a problem for Marco. Besides, he’s already got ours. 

Photos by Edric Chen, Styling by Paolo Lorenzana, Grooming by Anton Patdu, All clothes and accessories by BENCH